Baseball game apparatus



.Pune 3, 1941.

F. H. KESSLER BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1939 SSheets-Sheet l mb-I Buizank H. Kaas'ler INVENTOR.

EASE HUM PLATE E# 57 Fr' ATTORN EYS.

June 3, 1941. F. H. KEssLER BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed April 2o, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vo m llo m F i, 9J E www! H M E G, all! HM E 2 2 E 3 Sheets--Sheefl 3 2 .vf SPR PNN m E Nm www. Nm Nv N+ F. H.fKEss| ER BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed April 2o, 1959' Y .md-u.

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INVENTOR. Fr' ank H. KE 5 51er' ATTORNEYS.

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Patented June 3, 1941 STATES PATE 3 Claims This invention relates to improvements in baseball game apparatus, with which it is possible to play a game of baseball closely approximating regulation baseball, and an important object of the invention is to provide apparatus for playing a purely competitive game of baseball, in which speed and accuracy on the part of the opposing players, or teams of players, as well as skill, rather than mere chance, tend to determine the nal outcome of a game, in much the same manner as regulation baseball.

Another important object of the invention is to provide baseball apparatus including pitching, batting, base-running and elding means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of batting means, means for discriminating between hit balls to impart different values thereto, and fielding means so related to the gameboard as to give a base-runner greater advantage when the hit is of greater value.

A still further object resides in the provision of means discriminating between hit balls to impart different values thereto, corresponding with the relative values of ineld and outeld hits in regulation baseball, and whereby a hit ball of greater value is available for lielding purposes after a time delay greater than that which occurs before a hit ball of lesser value is made available for fielding purposes.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of means discriminating between hit balls to impart different values thereto, and whereby a hit ball of greater value is made available for fielding purposes at a greater distance from the diamond than is a hit ball of lesser value.

The invention also aims to provide a baseball gameboard having a playing surface and irnproved runway constructions beneath the playing surface for providing a differential between the times at which-hit balls of different values are made available for fielding purposes and for providing also a differential between the distances to the diamond at which said differently valued hit balls are made available for elding.

The invention further aims to provide a gameboard having batting means, base-running means and control means therefor operable from one end portion of the gameboard and also including pitching means, fielding means and control means therefore operable from the opposite end portion of the gameboard.

Still another object of the invention is to provide baseball game apparatus which may be produced in various sizes for competitive playing between opposing sides including one or more pla` ers.

A still further object resides in the provision of baseball gameboard including a mechanical ball shooter which may be directed toward any base of the gameboard for lielding purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring-powered ball shooter.

A further object is to devise improved batting means including aV flexible operating shaft.

Another important object resides in the provision of an improved table construction including a continuous playing surface lying in dihedrally disposed planes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Figures l and 2 are top plan and inverted plan views, respectively, of the improved baseball game apparatus. Y

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view substantially along the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of an inclined runway plate preferably forming a part of the invention. v

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are vertical sectional detail views of pitching, iniielding and cutiielding shooters, respectively, taken substantially on the lines 5 5, 6 6, and 1 1 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the Several views, the letter A generally designates the improved baseball game apparatus, comprising a gameboard B, pitching means C, batting means D, base-running means E, means F to discriminate between hit balls for imparting diierent values thereto, means G to withhold from access hit balls of dierent values for different lengths of time and to make said hit balls of different values available at different distances from the diamond, inelding means E, and outelding means K.

`The gameboard B may be formed of wood, metal or composition materials and preferably comprises a polygonal frame iii including side boards l l, an end board i2, and an end board I3 joined to the side boards by corner boards I4. Fixed to the insides of the side boards il and cornerV boards lll are ledger strips l5, each including a normally horizontal section l5, and inclined sections ii-t. Laid transversely on the ledger strips I5 are boards I9 forming a suboor carrying a resilient plywood panel 2U providing a continuous playing surface 2I including a normally horizontal portion 22 and an inclined dihedrally disposed portion 23 sloping therefrom. The gameboard may be supported at a suitable playing height as by legs 24. I n the example shown, the playing surface is disposed between the top and bottom edges of the polygonal frame, so that the upper portion of the frame serves to enclose the playing surface, and the lower portion of the frame forms a skirt-like housing and support for portions of the game apparatus beneath the subfloor, as well as enabling rigid attachment of the legs 24 as by bolts 25. The juncture of the plywood panel and polygonal frame I8 may be concealed by a suitable molding strip 28. If desired, the frame may carry an upwardly extending sheet metal backstop 21 forming an additional barrier about the horizontal portion 22 of the playing surface.

Referring now to the pitching means C, as .shown more particularly in Figures 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings, the same may include a barrel 38 mounted for horizontal swinging movement above the horizontal portion 22 of the playing surface, in any suitable manner. In the example shown, the barrel 38 includes a downwardly extending spacer boss 3| and shaft 32 rotatably secured -in a sleeve 33 as by collar 34, an expansion coil spring 35 being interposed between the collar 34 and sleeve 33. Extending into the barrel 38 is a rod 35 provided at its co-axial inner end with a plunger disc 38 and contractile coil spring 31 for urging the disc toward the mouth end 38 of the barrel. In order to insure retention of a ball 39 within the mouth end of the barrel until the pitching means is operated, a slight concavity 40 may be formed in the barrel. Encircling the rod 35 exteriorly of the barrel is an expansion coil spring 4I in abutment with a washer 42 bearing against cotter pin 43. The rod 35 may include an upwardly oiset portion 44 and a horizontal extension 45 crossing the end board I3 of the frame and terminating in a knob 46. In ,order to limit compression of the spring 31 to prevent excessively fast pitching, there may be fixed to the barrel a wire loop 41 so that upon predetermined compression of the spring 31, the bight portion of the loop will engage the upwardly oiset portion 44 of rod 35.

Secured on the end board I3 are strips 48 and 49, the lower strip 48 tending to prevent wear and the upper strip 49 including downturned end portions 58 for limiting swinging movement of the rod 35 and barrel 30.

Rotatably supported beneath the rod 35, as by upstanding bracket 5I is a transverse sleeve 52 forming a roller bearing for the rod 35 throughout its range of swinging movement.

As for the batting means D, the same may comprise a rock-shaft 53 extending vertically through the gameboard and carrying at its upper end a strip-like bat 54 provided on its batting side with a suitable resilient layer 55, such as sponge rubber. Beneath the gameboard, the rockshait 53 may include a crank 56 operatively connected as by flexible shaft or cable 51 extending through bearing sleeve 58 to knob 59. Between the sleeve 58 and knob 59, a contractile coil spring 60 may be interposed to absorb shocks during use of the batting means. Extending from the crank 56 to a fixed portion of the game board is an expansible coil spring 6I so arranged as to elongate upon drawing of the cable 51 outwardly of the gameboard frame, by means of the knob 59, and to contract upon release of the knob in a manner to eiect swinging of the bat for hitting or bunting a pitched ball. Marked or otherwise provided on the surface of the gameboard are spaced lines G2 bounding that portion of the gameboard within reach of the bat. Carried by a bracket 63 secured in downwardly depending relation from the suboor of the gameboard is a resilient stop 64, such as sponge rubber, in the path of travel of the crank to prevent excessive swinging of the bat.

The base-running means E may embody certain details of construction disclosed in the U. S. Patent 67,951 granted to William Buckley. The diamond 55 is located in the horizontal portion of the playing surface and may include grooved runways 66 extending in downwardly inclining relation successively between home plate 51, rst base 58, second base B9, third base 18, and back to home plate. The base-runners consist of four spheres 1I, such as marbles, adapted to roll by gravity along the downwardly inclined runways 68 between adjacent bases, but requiring successive elevations from the lower to the higher levels of adjacent runway ends. In the example shown, the runways 66 may be formed by cutting away portions of the upper panel and the subfloor, and fastening flat metal strips 12 over the base of the grooves to form continuous surfaces over which the spheres may roll from one base to another.

In order to elevate the spheres from one runway to another, each corner of the diamond is provided with a vertical bore 'I3 extending through the gameboard. Vertically slidable in each bore 13 is a cylindrical lifter 14 provided with a truncated top face 15 downwardly inclining in the direction of the succeeding runway. To the base of each lifter 'I4 is secured a bracket 16 including a downwardly extending tab 11 through which loosely extends a rocker arm 18 for elevating the lifter. Suitable stop means 19 may be provided for limiting movement of each rocker arm to prevent excessive elevating or dropping of the lifters. Secured to the bottom of the gameboard are leaf springs 8U for urging the rocker arms 'I8 in a downward direction. Extending from the rocker arms 18 and rotatably mounted in brackets 8| are operating shafts 82 passing through the end board I2 of the frame and terminating in crank handles 83. If desired, the leaf springs 88 may be assisted by coil springs 84 acting upon arms 85 fixed to the operating shafts 82.

In order to impart diierent values to hit balls, means F is provided. Any ball which is hit beyond the juncture of the horizontal and inclined portions of the pla-ying surface will of course tend to roll by gravity to the lower or discharge end 86 of the inclined portion 23. Two series 81-88 of staggered openings may extend downwardly through the gameboard and resilient divider strips 89 may be secured between the openings to form pockets 9D, some being provided with an opening .in one series 81, others including an opening in the other series 88, while still other pockets may be without openings in either series 81-88 If desired, shallow depressions 9I may be formed in the playing surface, so that not all hit balls will necessarily roll into an opening of either series lil- 88. The hit balls rolling into an opening in series 81 or series 88 are classied as ineld or outfield hits, respectively.

aai/204.

The pockets without openings form home-run compartments 92.

In order to withhold hit balls of different values from access for fielding purposes until the expiration of different lengths of time and to then make the hit balls available at diiferent distances from the diamond, means G is provided. Disposed beneath the table is an inclined plate 95 having its upper receiving end below the series 81 of openings and provided with upstanding ribs 95 forming ducts leading to separate discharge openings 9`| at opposite extremitiesV of the lower end of the plate. Fixed to opposite sides of the polygonal frame beneath the openings 9'! are container cups 98 for balls classied as infield hits. It will be noted that the duct-forming ribs 99 are so arranged that ineld hits to the right or left sides of the gameboard will be delivered to the iight or left container cups, respectively, upon completion of a relatively direct run.

Disposed beneath the plate 95 is a second similarly inclined plate |90 having its upper receiving end below the series S9 of openings and provided with convergent upstanding ribs |9| forming a guideway leading to a discharge end |92. Disposed beneath the plate |99 is an oppositely inclined plate |93 having its upper receiving end |94 below the discharge end |92 of the plate |99 and 4provided with convergent upstanding ribs |95 forming a guideway leading to a discharge end |95 provided with an outlet opening |91. Flxed to the gameboard frame beneath the opening |91 is a container cup |98 for balls classified as outfield hits. It will be observed that the length of time required for these balls to reach the container cup |98 will be greater than that required for balls classified as infield hits to reach the container cups 9B because ofthe indirect path tending to retard travel of the balls. It will also be seen that the container cup |93 is located at a greater distance from the diamond than either of the container cups S8.

The infielding means H may include two infielders H9, one located adjacent each container cup 98. Each infielder ||9 comprises a barrel so mounted on a pivot -pin or shaft ||2 as to incline slightly downwardly from its mouth end H3, which is provided with an aperture ||4 through which a hit ball to be elded may be dropped. Extending axially from its opposite end ||5 is a tubular stern ||6 passing freely through an elongate slot in the side board Extending through the stem I9 is a flexible shaft |8 provided at its inner end with a plunger f disc ||9 and contractile coil spring |20 for urging the disc toward the mouth end of the barrel. At its outer end, the shaft |28 is provided with a knob |2| and a contractile coil spring |22 for absorbing shocks occurring during use of the inelder. The slot |91 is of a length permitting pivotal swinging of the barrel so that the device may be aimed at any portion of the dia- A an upwardly facing annular shoulder |29. En-

circling the shaft |21 is a bearing sleeve |29 provided with exterior screw threads I39 and a flange |3| engaging the shoulder |28. Secured to the end board I3 is abracket |32 including an apertured arm |33 adjustably carrying the sleeve |29, as by nuts |34 engaging the threads |39 of the sleeve at opposite sides of the arm |33.

Extending axially into the barrel |25 is a flexible shaft |35 provided at its inner end with a plunger disc |36 and a contractile coil spring |31 for `urging the disc toward the mouth end |38 of the barrel. An aperture |39 may be provided in the mouth end for charging the barrel with a hit ball to be fielded. rIhe flexible shaft |35 at its outer end portion perferably extends through an elongate slot |49 in the end board |3 and terminates in a knob 4| provided with a contractile coil spring |42 for shock absorbing purposes.

In connection with the fielding means I-I and K, the plates or bases of the diamond are each provided with an upstancling semi-cylindrical target |45, preferably of a metal adapted to ring or otherwise audibly indicate when struck by a fielded ball.

In order that the target |45 at home plate may be hit by a ball shot from the iniielding or outi'lelding means I-I-K, resilient delector strips |46 are provided. These strips exten-d in spaced relation to the sides of the diamond adjacent home plate and are secured cornerwise of the frame, the end portions |41 of the strips attached to the end board l2 being of arcuate formation tending to direct a fielded ball toward home plate. The function of the strips |59 at the opposite end of the table is to deflect a batted ball toward the center line of the table and prevent lagging of the ball along the side and corner boards and lll.

In the operation of the game apparatus, the opposing sides each consisting of one or more players are stationed at opposite end portions of the table. A sphere '|I is placed upon the lifter 14 at home plate and a ball 39 is placed in the pitching means. After the bat has been drawnback by the player at bat, the pitcher shoots the ball 39. If the pitched ball does not pass between the lines 62 defining the batters reach, a ball is declared. If the pitched ball is hit and strikes a target |45 at one of the bases, it is considered caught and the batter is declared out If the hit ball rolls into a base hole, any runner heading for that base is declared out A ball batted into the barrel of the pitcher C and remaining there is considered caught and the batter is declared ou Foul lines |5| are provided to determine fair and foul hits as in regulation baseball. Plays are made for the base-runners on fair hits by means of the fielding means I-I--K As soon as the ball is hit, the base-running sphere 1| Iis released by means of the home plate lifter handle 93. Any other runners or spheres 1| on bases may also be selectively released if the player or players of the side at bat decide that bases or runs can be made, this being accomplished by manipulation of any or all of the lifter handles 83. If the hit ball remains on the level portion of the ineld, a player may pick it up as soon as it stops rolling, drop it in the barrel of either inelder I9 and shoot for any bas-e. If the fielded ball strikes a target |45 or rolls into a base hole before the runner or sphere ll arrives, the man is out. A batted ball which rolls into the outfield but fails to reach a home-run compartment 92, or drop into one of the depressions 9| for an out, or into an opening of the series 81--88, is considered to be a foul into the stands,

When the batted ball drops into an opening in the series 81, it is classified as an infield hit and is withheld from access for fielding purposes until it reaches a container cup 98 at either side of the table, and during this time the base-running means C, under control of the player or players at bat, may be manipulated to cause any lor all spheres 1 l, constituting base-runners, to make as many bases as possible, and with comparative safety. That is true also in case the batted ball drops into an opening in the series 88, whereby an outfield hit is made, except that the player or players at bat then have a greater chance to make bases or score runs because the ball then requires a greater length of time to reach the outfield container cup |08. In the case of either infield or outeld hits, the batted ball is retrieved as soon as it reaches a container cup 98 or HI8, then it is dropped in the nearest shooter of elding means H or K, and the shooter is then aimed at any target |45 in an attempt to catch a runner sphere 'H off base. As the outfield cup |08 and shooter are at a greater distance from the diamond than either of the ineld cups 98 and shooters, it will be more difdcult to catch a runner o base upon the making of an outiield hit, much the same as in regulation baseball.

It will therefore be seen that it is possible to play an exciting baseball game using the apparatus of the present invention, with practically all of the plays of regulation baseball duplicated or closely simulated.

Various changes may be made in the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A gameboard comprising a polygonal frame, ledger strips including angularly disposed sections secured in Vcorresponding relation within opposite sides of the frame, sub-flooring boards laid on said ledger strips between said opposite sides, and a resilient sheet laid on said sub-nooring boards to provide an uninterrupted playing surface including opposite end portions, one disposed in angular relation to the other.

2. A gameboard comprising a polygonal frame, a board secured within the frame intermediate the marginal edges thereof, said board including a discharge end provided with parallel series of outlet openings through the board, a cross-member carried by the frame beneath the board, a first plate having a receiving end disposed beneath one of said series of openings and inclined downwardly toward said cross-member, said plate being provided with upstanding ribs diverging from a point intermediate the ends of said one series of openings and terminating at their outer ends adjacent the opposite ends of said cross-bar, outlet openings in said plate in outwardly adjacent relation to the outer ends of said ribs, a second plate having a receiving end disposed beneath another of said parallel series of outlet opening and inclined downwardly toward said cross-member, said plate terminating in a discharge end, a third plate having a receiving end disposed beneath the discharge end of said second plate and downwardly inclined away from said cross-member, said third plate including down- Wardly convergent upstanding ribs and an outlet opening therebetween, and separate containers disposed beneath the outlet openings of said first and third plates and including access openings at the sides of said polygonal frame.

3. In baseball game apparatus, a board providing a playing surface including a diamond, a pivotally adjustable ball shooter carried by the board in outwardly disposed relation to one side of the diamond, and a resilient deector carried by the board in outwardly disposed relation to an adjacent side of the diamond, whereby a ball properly red against said deector from said shooter will be directed toward the plate at the end of said adjacent side remote from the shooter.

FRANK H. KESSLER. 

